Brewin Dolphin adds WNO to investment portfolio

Brewin Dolphin has further expanded the funds it manages on behalf of charities by becoming the Investment Manager for Welsh National Opera (WNO).

The firm has been appointed to invest a portfolio of endowment and long-term funds for the national opera company for Wales.

The charity and institutional team, which is one of three specialist teams within the Cardiff office, will use its in-house research capabilities to tailor a bespoke portfolio for WNO to meet its specific needs for growth and income, in addition to providing personalised investment advice and trustee training.

WNO, who recently received the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Opera, stages main scale opera performances across Wales and England with productions this year including Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Schoenberg’s rarely-performed Moses und Aron. WNO also work in partnership with organisations including schools and community groups on projects which bring people together, inspire creativity, and encourage expression through music.

Geraint Talfan Davies, chairman of WNO, said: “WNO is grateful to its supporters for providing funds to help secure the long term future of the Company. This not only enables us to produce award winning, world class live opera across Wales and England, but also to continue to support our youth and community work and outreach projects which offer many benefits to the communities in which we work. With Brewin Dolphin’s help we hope that gifts from supporters will make even more impact.”

This latest addition to Brewin Dolphin’s Cardiff office boosts the funds it oversees on behalf of charities, pension funds and institutions in Wales to more than £177m.

The charity Investment Management team in Wales is spearheaded by David Myrddin-Evans and Russell Hooper, who have over 30 years of City investment experience between them. Other well-known Welsh charities under their stewardship include the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Tenovus, St John Cymru Wales and Christ College Brecon.

David Myrddin-Evans, head of Brewin Dolphin Cardiff, said: “We are delighted that WNO has chosen to move their funds to our specialist institutional team here in Cardiff. All our charity clients have their own investment management team and portfolio. We have no relationship managers and no in-house pooled funds, and can therefore ensure that our clients are treated individually, with every investment decision guided by their specific objectives.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the team at WNO and hope that it is the basis of a long ongoing relationship. Attracting some of the world’s best opera singers, it is an exceptional and highly respected organisation within the performing arts sector. With world class facilities, we hope that the service we provide will help keep up WNO’s fantastic work in transforming lives through the power of opera.”

Brewin Dolphin has been investing on behalf of charities for over 60 years and has a substantial presence in the charity fund management industry. It currently looks after funds of £2.3bn on behalf of more than 1,900 UK charities. The Annual Charity Finance Fund Management Survey* ranks Brewin Dolphin as the 8th largest charity investment manager in the UK.

About the Author

Raspberry Jim helps spreads the word for jamjar PR - a creative communications agency based in Cardiff specialising in public relations, social media, digital PR and marketing.